Tuesday, 17 Jun 2014

Written Answers Nos. 273 to 297

School Transport Eligibility

Questions (273)

Martin Heydon

Question:

273. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are any financial supports to assist struggling families to cover the cost of school transport where they have medical cards but are required to pay school transport charges as the school their children are attending is not the closest to them and where they already have older siblings attending the same school not requiring a payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26102/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

The purpose of my Department's School Transport Schemes is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school. While it is the prerogative of parents to send their children to the school of their choice, eligibility for school transport is to the nearest school or education centre. Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only subject to a number of terms and conditions including the payment of the annual charge. This charge, which may be paid in two instalments in July and December, is a contribution towards the overall cost and does not reflect the true cost of providing these services. Only children who are eligible for school transport and who hold valid medical cards (GMS Scheme) are exempt from paying the annual charge.

Commercial Rates Valuation Process

Questions (274)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

274. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he expects the revaluation of rates on commercial and industrial properties to be completed in respect of a business (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25278/14]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

The Valuation Act 2001 provides for the valuation of all commercial and industrial property. The Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the performance of his functions under the Act and the making of valuations for rating is his sole prerogative and I, as Minister, have no function in decisions in this regard. The Valuation Act 2001, which came into effect on 2 May 2002, provides for two key elements in the provision and maintenance of the valuation lists for rating authorities.  It provides for the Valuation Office to undertake a general revaluation of all commercial and industrial property in the State and towards this end, the Office is currently engaged in a systematic programme of revaluation which commenced in 2005. The immediate objective of the national programme is to ensure that the first revaluation of all rating authority areas is conducted as soon as possible.

Revaluation is conducted across all relevant properties in one or more rating authority areas at the same time. However, implementation of the national programme cannot occur across the entire country simultaneously and the programme must, accordingly, be operated on a phased basis. Following the first revaluation, subsequent revaluations of each rating authority area will then be carried out on a cyclical basis no sooner than five years and no later than ten years after the first revaluation (Section 25 of the Valuation Act, 2001.

The revaluation programme began in November 2005 in the South Dublin County Council area and has since been rolled out to Fingal and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council areas and more recently to the Dublin City and Waterford City and County Council areas. The revaluation of South Dublin was completed in December, 2007; Fingal was completed in 2009; Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown was completed in 2010 and Dublin City and Waterford City and County were completed in December, 2013. The revaluation of Limerick City and County area is currently underway. It is intended to roll out the programme to Galway City and to Counties Carlow and Kilkenny shortly and the necessary consultation process is currently underway with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. While the Commissioner is exploring a number of initiatives to accelerate the programme, he cannot at present give a date for the commencement of the revaluation of all commercial properties in County Donegal or in other rating authority areas.

The Act also  provides for the updating of valuation lists through the revision process to allow new properties to be valued and added to the list, improved and extended properties to have their valuations updated and properties that have been demolished in whole or in part to have their valuations amended or struck out as appropriate.  The definition does not allow for a revision of valuation where the change in value is due to economic factors, differential movements in property values or other external factors such as roads or other infrastructural development in the vicinity of a property.  I am informed by the Valuation Office that no application for such a revision of valuation has to date been received in respect of the  property referred to by the Deputy.

The procedures for making an application for a determination of a valuation through the revision process are prescribed in section 27 of the Valuation Act, 2001.  An occupier of a property, a rating authority, a person as respects a property to which he/she is an interest holder or an occupier of a property that appears on a valuation list for the same rating authority area may apply in writing to the Commissioner of Valuation for a revision of an existing valuation or for a new valuation to be determined in respect of a new building. The statutory fee prescribed for the service is €250 which should accompany the application to the Valuation Office.

National Lottery Licence Sale

Questions (275)

James Bannon

Question:

275. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the reinstatement of the national lottery licence to sell lottery tickets following the refurbishment of premises in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25381/14]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

While I, as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, have overall responsibility for the National Lottery, the appointment of Lottery agents is a matter for the National Lottery Company. I have no role in day-to-day commercial decisions of this nature which are a matter between the individual retailer and the National Lottery Company.

Public Sector Staff Sick Leave

Questions (276)

Gerry Adams

Question:

276. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason stress is no longer classified as a critical illness for future sick pay arrangements for most persons but is still classified as a critical illness for sick pay arrangements for Deputies and the Judiciary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25674/14]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

Access to the Critical Illness Protocol operates on the basis of the severity of any specific medical condition rather than by classifying specific illnesses or injuries as critical illnesses.  Any condition sufficiently serious to meet the criteria set out in the Critical Illness Protocol may  be given access to extended sick pay arrangements.

The Public Service Management (Sick Leave) Regulations SI 124 of 2014 were signed by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on 6 March 2014 and came into effect in the majority of Public Service organisations on 31 March 2014.  The Regulations will come into effect in the Education Sector on 1 September 2014.  The new Public Service Sick Leave Scheme as set out in the Regulations allows staff access to paid sick leave for a maximum of six months in a rolling four year period, comprising of three months on full pay, followed by three months on half pay in a rolling one year period. The Scheme also allows for the granting of Temporary Rehabilitation Remuneration (previously pension rate of pay).  This payment may be paid for up to a maximum period of 18 months generally and only on the basis of a reasonable prospect of return to work by the staff member. It will be calculated on the basis of what an individual would be entitled to if they were to be paid an ill health pension at that time.

The Critical Illness Protocol is a new element of the sick leave scheme in the public service which provides the basis for access to extended sick leave with pay.  There was no provision for critical illness under the previous public service sick leave scheme and no illness was classified as critical, in respect of determining access to paid sick leave, before the introduction of the new scheme. In assessing whether an illness or injury may qualify for extended sick pay under the Critical Illness Protocol the Employer's Occupational Health Physician will determine, on a case by case basis, whether an employee meets the relevant criteria as follows:

1. The employee is medically unfit to return to his or her current duties or (where practicable) modified duties in the same pay grade

2. The nature of this medical condition has at least one of the following characteristics:

- Acute life threatening physical illness

- Chronic progressive illness, with well-established potential to reduce life expectancy (in circumstances where there is no medical intervention)

- Major physical trauma ordinarily requiring corrective acute operative surgical treatment

- In-patient hospital care of two consecutive weeks or greater. In the case of pregnancy-related or assisted pregnancy-related illness, the requirement for hospitalisation of two consecutive weeks will be reduced to two or more consecutive days of in-patient hospital / clinic care.

The HR Manager makes a decision on whether to grant critical illness provisions based on the advice of the Occupational Health Physician. In the event that a staff member is assessed as meeting the critical illness or serious physical injury criteria they will be allowed access to extended paid sick leave of up to six months on full pay, followed by six months on half pay in a rolling one year period, subject to a maximum of 12 months over a rolling four year period.

Members of the Oireachtas and the Judiciary are not included in public service sick leave schemes.

National Monuments

Questions (277)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

277. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if more permits-licences will become available for boat operators to land passengers onto Skellig Michael off the coast of South Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25763/14]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

I am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that they intend to hold a competition during the summer to award a permit for a replacement boat operator to ferry passengers to Skellig Michael. The competition documentation, the criteria applicants will have to meet and, the rules governing the award process are being drafted currently. The competition will be advertised locally in the south west and all qualifying applicants will be fully considered. Having regard to legal drafting issues involved, it is not yet clear when the proposed competition will be held.

Irish Language Issues

Questions (278)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

278. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will ensure that the Civil Service insist on 30% of new recruits being able to speak and deal in Irish with queries; if he will ensure that a 10% overall complement of persons working in the Civil Service will be able to deal with matters in Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26004/14]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

As the Deputy is aware, the Government approved the introduction of a new approach to ensure that there are a sufficient number of civil servants who are able to perform their duties through Irish.  These new arrangements were put in place in the context of replacing the policy of awarding bonus marks for Irish language proficiency in civil service recruitment and promotion competitions which was not meeting the Government's objectives. Under the new approach measures are being introduced to increase the cohort of functional bilinguals in the civil service in order to reflect a more competency-based approach to recruitment and, where appropriate, promotion competitions. In future, in the context of workforce planning frameworks, Departments will be required to identify the posts/areas of work requiring functional bilinguals and to include these in their workforce action plans. Having regard to the implementation of the Gaeltacht Act 2012, Departments will be asked to pay particular attention to posts that are located in, or that are serving, Gaeltacht areas. This process will be central to ensuring that future recruitment and interdepartmental promotion competitions run by PAS make sufficient provision for appointments to posts requiring functional bilinguals. In the case of Departmental recruitment and promotion competitions, an assessment will be made of the requirement for functional bilinguals and, where necessary and appropriate, a sub-panel of functional bilinguals will be put in place.

The new arrangements replace the scheme of bonus marks for Irish, introduced nearly 40 years ago following the abolition of compulsory Irish for entry to the civil service. Under the new arrangements, where a post in a Government Departments is identified as requiring proficiency in Irish, the intention is that it should be filled by a functional bilingual. It had been intended to pilot the new arrangements in the upcoming Executive Officer (EO) recruitment competition. However, as priority is now being given to a Clerical Officer (CO) competition and the EO competition will not take place until later in the year, it has been decided that the new arrangements will be piloted in the CO competition which will be announced in the coming weeks. It is proposed that a sub-panel of Irish language functional bilinguals comprising up to 6% of the overall CO panel size, will be created.

The new model provides for a sub-panel of Irish language functional bilinguals comprising up to 6% of the overall CO panel size and will be revised as necessary in the context of experience and progress in achieving the Government's objectives.

Election Management System

Questions (279)

Denis Naughten

Question:

279. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total cost of issuing Litir um Toghchain to each home at the last general election; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26106/14]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

Under Section 57 of the Electoral Act 1992, each candidate (or group of candidates from the same party) is entitled to send for a General Election, free of any charge for postage, to each person on the register of Dáil electors for the constituency, one postal communication containing matter relating to the election known as "Litir um Toghchain". For General Election 2011, the total postage cost of delivering election material for candidates under this entitlement was €11,606,616.72.

Election Management System

Questions (280)

Denis Naughten

Question:

280. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total cost of issuing Litir um Toghchain to each home at the recent European election; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26107/14]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

Under rule 22 of Schedule 2 of the European Parliament Elections Act 1997 as amended by Section 78(c) of the Electoral Act 1997 each candidate (or group of candidates from the same party) in a European Election is entitled to send, free of any charge for postage, to each household one postal communication containing matter relating to the election known as "Litir um Toghchain". Section 78(c) of the Electoral Act 1997 was commenced by the Minister for Environment Community and Local Government in February of this year.  Implementation of the modified free postage entitlement for European Elections, which changed the free postage entitlement from one item per elector on the Register of Electors to one item per household, will significantly reduce the number of items of candidates literature to be delivered and is expected to lead to significant savings in the cost of this service.

The actul cost of delivering Litir um Toghchain for the 2014 European Elections is not yet available as the final invoice has not been received from An Post. However, the estimated  cost is circa €8.65 million.

Direct Provision Expenditure

Questions (281)

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

281. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of the nature and cost of maintenance and renovation work carried out at the Athlone direct provision centre in County Westmeath in the past five years. [26134/14]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

I am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that the information sought by the Deputy is currently being collated. A detailed response will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Flood Prevention Measures

Questions (282)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

282. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which ongoing action is planned in respect of areas that have previously suffered from flooding, coastal erosion or damage from storms and floods, with particular reference to the need to carry out a proper drainage assessment with a view to the use of adequate drainage in line with adequate river and waterway maintenance requirement thereby eliminating the potential for such flooding in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26155/14]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

I am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that the OPW is currently undertaking a comprehensive programme of assessment for all national river catchments through the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. The CFRAM Programme is being delivered through the CFRAM Studies. Further details on this Programme are available at www.cfram.ie. The CFRAM Programme is designed to assess and map the country's river systems to identify areas at risk of significant flooding and to examine options for the sustainable management of the flood risk. The Programme will:

- produce detailed flood mapping in order to identify and map the existing and potential future flood hazard and risk areas within the study area,

- build the strategic information base necessary for making informed decisions in relation to managing flood risk,

- identify viable structural and non-structural measures and options for managing the flood risks for localised high-risk areas and within each river catchment as a whole.

This will include appropriate river maintenance measures.

The OPW is continuing with its programme of major flood relief schemes. These schemes are focused on locations, throughout the country, where significant flood events have occurred in the past. Spending on major flood relief schemes and minor works during the period 2009-2013, inclusive, amounted to €171 million. Further details are available on www.opw.ie under Flood Risk Management. In addition to the programme of investment in major flood relief schemes, the OPW also provides funding to local authorities to carry out minor works to address more localised flooding problems throughout the country.

It is open to local authorities also to undertake flood mitigation works using their own resources. The investigation of localised flooding problems is a matter for local authorities in the first instance. It is open to local authorities to submit an application for funding for mitigation measures under the Office of Public Works' Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. Any application received will be assessed under the eligibility criteria, which include a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, and having regard to the overall availability of funding. The Scheme generally applies to relatively straightforward cases where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame.

Where a drainage scheme is carried out under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995, the OPW has responsibility for maintenance of the completed scheme. The average cycle of maintenance takes place once every five years. This work is carried out to ensure that the State's investment in the Arterial Drainage schemes continues to provide the intended benefits. The total allocation for drainage maintenance for 2014 is €14.8 million. It should be noted that there are many other rivers and watercourses for which the OPW does not have any maintenance responsibility. Local Authorities have statutory responsibility for maintenance of rivers and watercourses which form part of Drainage Districts. For other watercourses falling outside of the OPW and Local Authority areas of responsibility, private landowners generally have responsibility for the maintenance of these.

The Government decided on 11 February 2014 to allocate total funding of up to €69.5 million for repair of public infrastructure and facilities damaged by the severe weather events in the period 13 December 2013 to 6 January 2014 based on estimates of costs provided by Local Authorities to the Department of the Environment Community and Local Government (DoECLG). This allocation included up to €19.6 million for repairs of existing coastal protection and flood defences, to be provided through the Vote of the OPW.

Leader's Allowance

Questions (283)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

283. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amounts paid to individual Independent Deputies since the beginning of the 31st Dáil under the leader's allowance heading; if any Deputy has returned any of the leader's allowance; the date from which the leader's allowance has to be vouched; the amount Independent Deputies were paid while the allowance was unvouched; if he will abolish the allowance altogether; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25340/14]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

The Parliamentary Activities Allowance (formerly known as the Party Leader's Allowance) is provided for in the Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act 1938, as amended most recently by the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Act 2014. The allowance is paid to the parliamentary leader of a qualifying party in relation to expenses arising from the parliamentary activities, including research, of the party. Payments are made in respect of members of the party elected to Dáil Éireann and members elected/nominated to Seanad Éireann at the last preceding general election or a subsequent bye-election or, in the case of Seanad Éireann, nominated to it after the last preceding general election.  The legislation also provides that payments may be made to a member of Dáil or Seanad Éireann who is elected other than as a member of a qualifying party.

The conditions governing entitlement to payment of the allowance are set out in the Act. The primary restriction in the Act on the use of the allowance is that it may not be used in respect of election expenses. The allowance is non-taxable and is paid monthly in arrears into a bank account specified by the beneficiary of the allowance. It is not claimed in the same manner as expense allowances. The legislation provides that each party leader must prepare a statement of expenditure for the allowance, to have it audited by an independent auditor and furnish it with the auditor's report to the Standards in Public Office (the Commission) Commission. Based on the accounts submitted, the Commission is required to make a report in relation to the use of the Parliamentary Activities Allowance and cause a copy of the report to be laid before the Oireachtas.

I have no plans to discontinue payment of the allowance. However, following a review of the allowance and a consultation process with leaders of qualifying political parties, qualifying independent members and with the Standards in Public Office Commission, I provided for certain amendments to the allowance under this year's Act. The Act provides for a reduction of 10% in the rates of the allowance, representing an estimated full year Exchequer saving of €0.84 million. Furthermore, with effect from 1 July of this year, the same audit and reporting provisions that apply to parliamentary leaders will now also apply to independent members in receipt of the allowance. For the first time, Independent Members will have to record and account for expenditure from the allowance, all of which is to be expended in respect of parliamentary activities, including research.

The total amounts paid to each qualifying independent member from 9 March 2011 to date are set out in the following tables. I am not aware of any amounts that may have been returned by Independent members.

Independent Deputies	2011	2012	2013	2014 (end May)	Total
Catherine Murphy	€34,783.20	€41,151.96	€41,151.96	€17,146.65	€134,233.77
Finian McGrath	€34,783.20	€41,151.96	€41,151.96	€17,146.65	€134,233.77
John Halligan	€34,783.20	€41,151.96	€41,151.96	€17,146.65	€134,233.77
Luke "Ming" Flanagan	€34,783.20	€41,151.96	€41,151.96	€16,535.95	€133,623.07
Mattie McGrath	€34,783.20	€41,151.96	€41,151.96	€17,146.65	€134,233.77
Maureen O Sullivan	€34,783.20	€41,151.96	€41,151.96	€17,146.65	€134,233.77
Michael Healy Rae	€34,783.20	€41,151.96	€41,151.96	€17,146.65	€134,233.77
Michael Lowry	€34,783.20	€41,151.96	€41,151.96	€17,146.65	€134,233.77
Michael Wallace	€0.00	€75,935.16	€41,151.96	€17,146.65	€134,233.77
Noel Grealish	€34,783.20	€41,151.96	€41,151.96	€17,146.65	€134,233.77
Shane Ross	€34,783.20	€41,151.96	€41,151.96	€17,146.65	€134,233.77
Seamus Healy	€34,783.20	€41,151.96	€41,151.96	€17,146.65	€134,233.77
Stephen Donnelly	€34,783.20	€41,151.96	€41,151.96	€17,146.65	€134,233.77
Thomas Pringle	€34,783.20	€41,151.96	€41,151.96	€17,146.65	€134,233.77
Tom Fleming	€34,293.30	€41,641.86	€41,151.96	€17,146.65	€134,233.77
Total	€486,474.90	€652,552.50	€617,279.40	€256,589.05	€2,012,895.85

Independent Senators	2011	2012	2013	2014 (end May)	Total
David Norris	€15,913.41	€23,382.96	€23,382.96	€9,742.90	€72,422.23
Fergal Quinn	€15,913.40	€23,382.96	€23,382.96	€9,742.90	€72,422.22
Ronan Mullen	€15,913.40	€23,382.96	€23,382.96	€9,742.90	€72,422.22
John Crown	€15,913.40	€18,388.64	€23,382.96	€9,742.90	€67,427.90
Sean Barrett	€15,913.40	€23,382.96	€23,382.96	€9,742.90	€72,422.22
Martin McAleese	€3,247.63	€23,382.96	€3,897.16	€0.00	€30,527.75
Fiach Mac Conghaill	€14,394.35	€23,382.96	€23,382.96	€9,742.90	€70,903.17
Eamon Coghlan	€14,394.35	€23,382.96	€23,382.96	€9,742.90	€70,903.17
Dr. Katherine Zappone	€14,394.35	€23,382.96	€23,382.96	€9,742.90	€70,903.17
Mary Ann O Brien	€14,394.35	€23,382.96	€23,382.96	€9,742.90	€70,903.17
Marie Louise O Donnell	€14,394.35	€23,382.96	€23,382.96	€9,742.90	€70,903.17
Jillian Van Turnhaut	€14,394.35	€23,382.96	€23,382.96	€9,742.90	€70,903.17
Total	€169,180.75	€275,601.20	€261,109.72	€107,171.90	€813,063.57

Flood Relief Schemes Applications

Questions (284)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

284. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the works that will be carried out to alleviate flooding at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25415/14]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

The storms earlier this year caused significant damage to the River Maine Catchment Drainage Scheme (a scheme developed and maintained by the Office of Public Works), in particular to the earthen flood defence embankments. The OPW is continuing to carry out repair works. Given the extent of works required and the limitations of available resources, works are prioritised and carried out on a planned phased basis, with priority being given to the areas at most risk. Some initial repairs have been undertaken at both of the locations mentioned by the Deputy (Keel and Callinafercy West) and it is intended to complete the repairs later in the Summer.

Capital Programme Expenditure

Questions (285, 289)

Seán Fleming

Question:

285. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the projects that have gone to tender or commenced construction under the Government's stimulus plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25529/14]

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

289. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of the €200 million designated as investment funded by national lottery licence for direct Exchequer capital funding according to the Government Estimates for 2014 is expected to go towards construction related projects; if he will list the projects; if he will provide an update on any of these projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25563/14]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

I propose to take Questions Nos. 285 and 289 together.

Since July 2012, I have made a number of announcements in relation to additional capital investment to be funded from stimulus moneys:

- In July 2012 I announced a €2.25 billion Stimulus Package which included a new €1.5 billion PPP programme involving projects across the education, roads, healthcare and justice sectors;

- In June 2013, following on from the 2012 announcement, I allocated €150 million additional Exchequer investment to schools, energy efficiency and roads projects;

- In Budget 2014 I announced that, along with the €200 million already committed to the National Children's Hospital, some €200 million would be invested from the Lottery Licence transaction;

- Finally, in May of this year, I announced a further €200 million of investment in a range of capital projects to be funded from the proceeds of the sale of State assets.

As these announcements have been made at different junctures over the course of the last two years, some are more advanced than others. The PPP element of the stimulus plan was the first to be launched and is being delivered by a range of Government Departments and Agencies across the roads, education, healthcare and justice areas, working in conjunction with the National Development Finance Agency. The largest PPP in the July 2012 Stimulus announcement was the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam road and I am pleased to report that the contracts on this project were signed in April this year and construction of the project is now underway. In addition, seven of the announced projects have issued to market and the procurement process is in progress. These are:

- Schools Bundle 4

- Schools Bundle 5

- Grangegorman DIT - Central and East Quads

- Courts Bundle

- Primary Care Centres Bundle

- M11 Gorey Enniscorthy

- N25 New Ross Bypass

These projects are on course to reach financial close and commence construction later this year and in 2015.

At the time of the 2012 announcement, it was also envisaged that in the Justice area a bundle of three Garda divisional HQs would be progressed as a PPP. It has since been decided that these can be better delivered through traditional Exchequer investment and I understand that these will issue to market very shortly.

The Exchequer elements, although announced later than the PPP programme, are also progressing well. In relaton to the June 2013 package, the roads element was completed at the end of last year, construction has commenced on the Local Authority Energy Efficiency works and seven of the 28 schools projects are under construction, with 17 more at tender stage and the remaining four at pre-tender stage.

In relation to the National Lottery Licence funded projects, a full list of the projects and programmes included in this package are available on my Department's website (www.per.gov.ie). Most of these projects involve construction works; however, three involve non-construction related capital investment: the National Trading Online Voucher Scheme, National City of Culture and seed capital investment for a Book Rental Scheme for Primary Schools. The funding from the Lottery Licence for the three non-construction related projects comes to a total of €16 million. Looking at the package as a whole, eight projects are at planning or tender phase and nine have commenced construction or are being rolled out. The most recent announcement was made in May of this year and most of the projects involved in that package are still at the early phases of planning. As with the National Lottery Licence funding, a list of the projects and programmes included in this latest package is available on my Department's website. Further details on individual projects and programmes can be obtained from the relevant Ministers and their line Departments.

Capital Programme Expenditure

Questions (286)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

286. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total amount of capital spending on construction projects carried out by his Department and by bodies operating under the responsibility of his Department between 2008 and to date in 2014; if he will provide the information on an annual basis in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25543/14]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

In response to the Deputy's question the total amount of capital spending on construction projects carried out by my Department and by bodies operating under the responsibility of my Department between 2008 and to date in 2014 is as outlined as follows. The following two tables show the capital spending on construction projects by my Department in 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014.

Capital Spending on Construction Projects

Public Expenditure and Reform	2012	2013	2014   YTD
HR Shared Service Centre	301,910.00	0	0

Capital Spending on Construction Projects

Shared Services	2013	2014   YTD
PeoplePoint (HR Shared Service)	79,453.55	0
PSSC (Payroll Shared Service)	26,312.00	20,427.79
FMSS (Financial Management Shared Service)	N/A	0

By way of information, the costs incurred by both Public Expenditure and Reform Vote and the Shared Services Vote in respect of Peoplepoint/HR Shared Services Centre in 2012 and 2013 were incurred in the fit out of the offices in Clonskeagh. The costs incurred by Shared Service Vote in respect of the Payroll Shared Service (PSSC) were incurred in respect of fit-out costs in Tullamore. The following table shows details of the capital spending on construction projects by the Office of Public Works from 2008 to date in 2014:

Capital Spending on Construction Projects

-	2008 €m	2009 €m	2010 €m	2011 €m	2012 €m	2013 €m	Up to 13th June 2014
Office of Public Works	292,526	163,402	129,610	91,506	91,717	93,452	22,930

In order to account for the difference between the above construction expenditure and the capital allocation on the Office of Public Works Vote please note that Unitary Payments for the Convention Centre Dublin and the replacement of Plant and Machinery are not included in the above figures.

Capital Programme Expenditure

Questions (287)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

287. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of the €10 million designated to his Department for direct Exchequer capital funding according to the Government Estimates for 2014 is expected to go towards construction related projects; if he will list the projects; if he will provide an update on any of these projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25559/14]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

In response to the Deputy's question the following table outlines the amount of the €10 million designated to my Department for direct Exchequer capital funding according to the Government Estimates for 2014 expected to go towards construction related projects.  

Shared Services	2014
PeoplePoint (HR Shared Service)	1,000,000*
PSSC (Payroll Shared Service)	550,000
FMSS (Financial Management Shared Service)	50,000

*The Peoplepoint (HR Shared Service) figure of €1 million is the projected capital spend for 2014.

It is not known at this time as to what proportion of this amount will be spent in respect of construction.

Capital Programme Expenditure

Questions (288)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

288. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of the €100 million designated to the Office of Public Works for direct Exchequer capital funding according to the Government Estimates for 2014 is expected to go towards construction related projects; if he will list the projects; if he will provide an update on any of these projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25560/14]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

The direct Exchequer capital funding allocated to the Office of Public Works for 2014 amounts to €104.5 million. A breakdown by Subhead of the €104.5m on the OPW Vote in 2014 is set out as follows:

Funding Source	Description / Subhead	Capital Estimate 2014 €000
16	B.4 Grants for Refurbishment (C2)	250
20	B.5 Purchase of Sites & Bldgs (D)	500
25	B.6 New Works (E) * See Table 1	38,450
36	B.10 Unitary Payments Capital (F6)	20,300
40	A.3 Purchase of Plant and Machinery etc (G)	800
51	A.5 Flood Relief (H2) * See Table 2	44,200
-	Total Estimate	104,500

Additional Detail:

A list of the types/various construction related projects is set out in Table 1 (Subhead B.7) and Table 2 (Subhead A.5).

Table 1 - Subhead B.6

Programme	Project
Garda	Dundrum
	Dundalk
	Technical Bureau
	Templemore College
	Wicklow
	Mullingar
	Cell Refurbishment Programme
Office Rationalisation and Fit - Outs	Reception & Integration Agency
	Ballina Government Office
	Ballymun
	Leeson Lane
	Jamestown Regeneration Works
	Sligo Government Offices
	Merrion Square Refurbishment
	Houston Hall, Limerick
	Clonmel House
	Georges Court
	Tara House, Limerick
	Portlaoise Government Offices
Heritage	Leinster House - Miscellaneous Works
	Kilmainham Courthouse
	Four Courts
Cultural Institutions	Various Projects at National Concert Hall, Natural History Museum and National Gallery
Universal Access / H&S / Minor M&E / Minor Works	Various Government Buildings

The majority of the above projects are on site and are proceeding satisfactorily with €34m contractually committed in 2014.

A.5 Flood Relief

In the area of Flood Risk Management the 2014 allocation is €44.2 million, with another €0.8 million allocated for the cost of replacement plant and machinery. Of the €44.2 million approximately €37 million is directly associated with construction related projects. Approximately €5 million is associated with the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Programme (CFRAM) which will give rise to projects at upwards of 300 locations i.e. over 90%. Of the €37 million directly related to projects, approximately €34 million will be spent on major Flood Relief Schemes with the remainder allocated to the Minor Works Scheme, in which the OPW provides funding to Local Authorities to undertake works, subject to meeting specific criteria and the availability of funding, up to €0.5 million in cost for an individual project.

The following list sets out the major flood relief projects which it is anticipated will incur expenditure in 2014.

Table 2 - Subhead A.5

Project (Flood Relief Schemes)

Mallow, Co Cork

Clonmel, Co Tipperary

Fermoy, Co Cork

Bray, Co Wicklow

River Dodder, Dublin

Ennis, Co Clare

River Wad, Dublin

Waterford City

Templemore, Co Tipperary

Enniscorthy, Co Wexford

Arklow, Co Wicklow

Claregalway, Co Galway

Bandon, Co Cork

Skibbereen, Co Cork

Lower Lee, Cork City

Raphoe, Co Donegal

Ballymakeera, Co Cork

Crossmolina, Co Mayo

South Campshires, Dublin

Lower Morrell River, Co Kildare

Douglas/Togher, Co cork

Glanmire, Co Cork

Clonakilty, Co Cork

Crookstown, Co Cork

Skerries, Dublin

River Poddle, Dublin

River Camac, Dublin

Portmarnock, Dublin

Dunkellin River, Co Galway

Tullamore, Co Offaly

The Schemes currently at construction include Mallow, Clonmel, Fermoy, Bray, River Dodder, Ennis, River Wad and Waterford City. Schemes where construction may commence before the end of 2014 include Skibbereen, Co Cork, Claregalway, Co Galway, Templemore and the South Campshires, Dublin. It is anticipated that the rest of the Schemes on the list will commence construction in either 2015 or 2016, subject to final designs being completed, planning approvals and the required funding being available.

Question No. 289 answered with Question No. 285.

Commencement of Legislation

Questions (290)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

290. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is confident that the Government will complete the implementation of the Construction Contracts Act 2014 by the end of quarter two 2014 as promised in the Government's recently published Construction 2020 strategy document; if he will provide a specific date for when the legislation will take effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25565/14]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

The Construction Contracts Bill passed all stages of the Houses of the Oireachtas in July 2013 and was signed into law on the 29 July 2013.  The enactment of the legislation marked a significant step towards the Programme for Government commitment to introduce new legislation to protect small building subcontractors that have been denied payments from bigger companies. The implementation of the Act requires two further elements to ensure the legislation will operate as intended.  The first; a comprehensive code of practice for the conduct of adjudication, has been the subject of consultation with key stakeholders. The final draft of the code of practice was circulated to stakeholders in March.

The second element requires the establishment of a panel of adjudicators and a chair of that panel to be appointed by the Minister of Public Expenditure and Reform.  The chair of the panel will appoint an adjudicator where parties to a payment dispute (that has been referred to adjudication under the Act) fail to agree on an adjudicator between them. Detailed proposals for the structure for the panel, its set up and operation are complete.  However it was recently decided to retain responsibility for the administration of the Act within my Department.  This poses challenges in respect of this Department's role, through the Office of Government Procurement, in publishing the public works contracts which are also covered by the Act.

Officials are currently considering what further steps may be taken to ensure that potential conflicts of interest do not arise should a payment dispute under a public works contract be referred to the chair of the panel for the appointment of an adjudicator.  Once this aspect is resolved stakeholders will be invited to respond to the proposed structure for the ministerial panel of adjudicators.  Once the subsequent appointment process to the panel is complete the Act will be commenced.

Public Private Partnerships Data

Questions (291)

Seán Fleming

Question:

291. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the projects under public private partnership that have gone to tender or commenced construction under the Government stimulus plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25568/14]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

In July 2012 I announced a €2.25 billion stimulus plan that included the launch of the first phase of a new PPP programme. The PPPs are being delivered by a range of Government Departments and Agencies across the roads, education, healthcare and justice areas, working in conjunction with the National Development Finance Agency. The largest PPP in the July 2012 Stimulus announcement was the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam road and I am pleased to report that the contracts on this project were signed in April this year and construction of the project is now underway. In addition, seven of the announced projects have issued to market and the procurement process is in progress. These are:

- Schools Bundle 4

- Schools Bundle 5

- Grangegorman DIT - Central and East Quads

- Courts Bundle

- Primary Care Centres Bundle

- M11 Gorey Enniscorthy

- N25 New Ross Bypass

These projects are on course to reach financial close and commence construction later this year and in 2015. At the time of the 2012 announcement it was also envisaged that in the Justice area a bundle of three Garda divisional HQs would be progressed as a PPP. It has since been decided that these can be better delivered through traditional Exchequer investment and I understand that these will issue to market very shortly.

Finally the Deputy may recollect that the 2012 Stimulus announcement also signalled the reactivation of two existing PPP projects that had previously been stalled owing to the economic crisis and the difficulties in international financial markets. Both of these projects have progresses well since then. In the first of these the Schools Bundle 3 project contracts were signed in November 2012, construction is now practically complete, and all 8 schools facilities will be available for use this September. The second project involving a roads bundle comprising an N11 development and the upgrade of the N7 (Newlands Cross) junction saw contracts signed in April 2013; construction is progressing well, with the N7 element due for completion by end this year and the N11 element due for completion in Autumn 2015.

Industrial Relations

Questions (292)

Seán Fleming

Question:

292. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of cases before the Labour Court, Equality Tribunal, CPSA and EAT involving civil servants taking cases against his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25644/14]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

There is one case before the Equality Tribunal arising from a complaint against my Department. There are no cases pending against my Department in the other forums identified by the Deputy.

Public Sector Pensions

Questions (293)

Martin Heydon

Question:

293. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the changes to pensions of former public servants including judges, Ministers and politicians since the commencement of this Government; the related savings that have accrued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25696/14]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

The pensions of all Public Servants, including politicians etc., have been subject to a range of measures implemented over recent years which have had significant downward effects on pensions and pension awards, as detailed in my reply to Parliamentary Question number 262 on 19 November 2013 (ref. 48835/13). In addition to the measures outlined in that reply, a further effective pension cut applies, with effect from 1 September 2013, in the case of persons who receive two or more Public Service pensions which have a combined value in excess of €32,500. This further pension cut is based on applying the "Public Service Pension Reduction" (PSPR) to the combined value of the multiple Public Service pensions held by such a person, rather than to each such pension individually. This aggregation of pensions for PSPR purposes reduces the overall Public Service pension income of affected pensioners, including significant numbers of pensioners who receive both a TD pension and a Ministerial pension.

Departmental Staff Expenses

Questions (294)

Niall Collins

Question:

294. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide in tabular form the total amount spent per annum from 2011 to 2013, inclusive, and to date in 2014 on staff subsistence payments and staff taxi payments; if his Department has been audited for tax compliance on these payments and other benefits-in-kind; if these processes have been revised in view of concerns by the Revenue Commissioners over practices in other State bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25820/14]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

The following table details the total annual spend on  staff subsistence payments and staff taxi payments for the years 2011 to 2013, inclusive, and to date in 2014.

Year	2011	2012	2013	To date 2014
Staff Subsistence Payments	147,923.94	211,881.60	280,746.09	83,511.66
Staff Taxi Payments	3,492.06	5,638.27	6,983.41	1,777.27

In addition, the Department has a contracted taxi service and the payments to that company in respect of usage of the service over the years in question are set out in the following table. An element of the cost relates to administration charges for the taxi company.

2011	2012	2013	To date 2014
102.96	3,779.17	6,257.82	3,290.63

A Revenue audit of my Department is currently in progress. As is usual, that audit is looking at all of the relevant payments that the Department makes. My Department and the Department of Finance which provides payment services on an agency basis for my Department is concerned at all times to abide by taxation legislation and Revenue guidelines.

Departmental Staff Remuneration

Questions (295)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

295. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason a person, who has spent over two years as a contracted clerical officer within the public service, was placed as a new entrant on their payscale when they moved to another State body, despite their pension contributions or pension-related deductions being retained due to the length of their service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25987/14]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

The rules governing incremental progression for fixed-term workers in the Civil Service are set out in the Department of Finance Letter 16/12/2004 LP: Payscales and Incremental Progression of Fixed-Term Workers. The rules governing incremental credit for previous relevant service are set out in Circular 21/2004: Agreement on incremental credit for previous service for entry levels at Clerical Officer, Executive Officer, or equivalent grades represented by the Civil and Public Services Union (CPSU) and Public Services Executive Union (PSEU). While policy and guidance in this area is a matter for my Department, responsibility for the application of the circulars in any particular case is a matter for the employing Department or agency.

Croke Park Agreement Implementation

Questions (296)

Regina Doherty

Question:

296. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the current status of voluntary redeployment as agreed in 2009 under Croke Park II; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25991/14]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

The Public Service Agreements (PSAs) covering the period 2010-16 (the Croke Park and Haddington Road Agreements) provide for agreed redeployment arrangements to apply in the Civil Service and in other parts of the Public Service.  Under the PSAs, redeployment generally takes precedence over all other methods of filling a vacancy and supersedes any existing agreements on the deployment of staff. The Deputy should note that the redeployment arrangements are not voluntary per se but provide a mechanism to allow staff to be moved as result of rationalisation, reconfiguration or restructuring of public bodies.  Redeployment operates through a Resource Panel system, which is managed by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) for the Civil Service and Non-Commercial State Sponsored Bodies (NCSSBs) under their aegis. It also manages cross-sectoral assignments where necessary.

The Resource Panel contains details of the posts identified by organisations for redeployment in these sectors on the basis of changing business needs or ongoing management of the Employment Control Framework (ECF) ceilings by public service bodies. Where an organisation has business reasons to redeploy staff, and has identified the number of posts involved and the location of the surplus, it seeks volunteers for inclusion on the Resource Panel. If the number of volunteers falls short of the surplus, Last-In-First-Out (LIFO) is applied, as appropriate. Assignments from the Resource Panel are made on the basis of "best fit" for the vacancy in the location, on foot of a comparison by the PAS of the knowledge, skills, competencies and career experience of those on the Resource Panel with the requirements for the available post.  The assignment decision is progressed directly between the sending and receiving organisations involved. While the assignee may appeal the redeployment decision to an independent adjudicator, the assignee must take up the position offered in advance of the adjudication process.

In cases where none of the public service organisations in a geographical area have notified details of surplus staff at the grade or at equivalent grades to the PAS for inclusion on the Resource Panel, or where there are insufficient numbers on the Resource Panel in the relevant geographical area, the PAS may seek volunteers from among staff who are outside that area.

Some 12,388 staff are recorded as redeployed to end December 2013.  There were 67 surplus posts notified to the Redeployment Panels at end May 2014: for the Civil Service (35); for NCSSBs (32). A significant portion of requests to date to fill positions have been for staff with specific qualifications and/or experience not represented on the panels or readily available in Departments and bodies. Another significant proportion is for staff in geographic areas (particularly Dublin) where there are little or no personnel available for redeployment.

State Bodies Code of Conduct

Questions (297)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

297. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to review the code of practice for the governance of State bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26049/14]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, last issued in May 2009, is currently under review in my Department and a revised edition will be published shortly. The guide is being revised to take account of general developments concerning Departmental oversight of the bodies under their aegis and the guidelines to be observed by the boards of State bodies in matters of internal governance.